COPD & Emphysema Support Group

COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...

Things I Have Learned

I have been living with emphysema for seven or so years. In hopes to contribute to this great forum as a newbie I offer tips I have learned and used to control the progression of this disease.

1. Get healthy! Eat foods that boost the immune function. Most diseases are allowed into our body due to either a lack of immunity from infectious diseases (COPD is not in this catagory), or a
weakness in our immune system. Here's one on many sites that appear to have good info on this: http://www.nutritional-supplement-educational-centre.com/foods-to-boost-immune-system.html

2. Exercise as much as possible. Walking is one of the best things you can do. Do as much of this as your body will comfortably tolorate. Take a camera or an I-Pod with you to have an excuse
to go walking.

3. Strengthen your chest muscles. Concentrating on the muscles that control you diaphram. I use a device named EXPAND-A LUNG. It's a small unit that has a mouthpiece simular to a snorkle.
This is connected to a small valve device with a knob one can turn to increase or decrease the amount of effort it takes to breath through it. Sport professionals use this alot to increase the
volume of their lung capacity and to keep the diaphram muscles strong. Remember, COPD is air that is trapped in your lungs which is very difficult to exhale in order to add another breath.
By the way, I have no affiliation with the company that sells or makes it. You'll have to do a seach on where to buy online as I did a few years back.

Hope this info from my experience helps someone. For those who already who have this knowlege, please forgive me if I seem to be a know-it-all. I'm not. I'm here in this forum to learn more from the group to help myself.

Hi,
I have the lung expander. I bought it a few years back and used it for awhile and then forgot about it. I started to blow up balloons and play the harmonica. The lung expander worked the best so I will start using it again. Thanks for the reminder.
Hugs,
Nellie

Thanks for your suggestions. Although I'm new to COPD, I have always felt that general good health (eating well, taking supplements, avoiding excessive stress, sleeping enough, getting outside and walking and exercising) is important no matter what disease you have.

I'm using an incentive spirometer to keep my lungs and associated muscles used to expanding.

Taking care of our physical needs is most important and I agree. I also feel that taking care of our emotional and spiritual needs is just as important. Having a good laugh is not only good for our lungs, it is also good for our souls.

As the song goes, &quot;Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.&quot; Rather than thinking COPD is life threatening, one can think of it as life affirming and get in touch with those things that are so important in life....our friends, our families, nature, good books, happy times....the list can go on and on.

Try not to focus as much on those things that you may not be able to do any more, but those things that you can do - whether it's crocheting a lovely afghan or writing a letter to an editor about subjects important to you.

Take some time just for you....sit outside on a beautiful day. Just sit there and let serenity flow through. Or watch a storm..Nature in all its powerful self. It can be rather humbling.

If you think COPD is bad, remind yourself you could have an incurable brain tumor..and keep it in perspective.

Certainly, having this disease is not a rose garden, but I don't recall being promised one in the first place and when I think &quot;Why me?&quot;, Well, then I think &quot;Why not me?&quot; Would I wish it on others?

I, for one, often feel blessed that I have been given COPD, for there are a great many days when I feel more alive that I ever have and appreciate each and every single day I have been given whereas I used to take so many of them for granted.

I miss traveling with my husband. Has anyone found a specific site regarding cruising for widow/widowers or any sightseeing trips. Not interested in being with couples and kids,,,I realize a cruise ship will have a portion size of families and couples, but perhaps they also put together a part of the cruise ship for groups of widows/widowers????

A friend sent this to me..As far as I can see, grief will never truly end.It may become softer overtime, more gentleand some days will feel sharp.But grief will last as long as Love does - ForeverIt's simply the way the absence of your loved onemanifests in your heart. A deep longing accompaniedby the deepest Love some days. The heavy fog mayreturn and the next day, it may recede.Once again, it's...

All content posted on this site is the responsibility of the party posting such content.
Participation on this site by a party does not imply endorsement of any other party's content,
products, or services. Content should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.